Members of the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource & Development Center (VMPRDC) assisted participants of 2017 NEXTGEN Program to plant mangrove seedlings in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu

In August 2017, I traveled with the participants of the 2017 NEXTGEN program, Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga. During our visit, we demonstrated ‘kawang gawa’, the age-old cultural trait of helping others.

We planted mangrove seedlings in Mactan island with the local community supported by the Bayanihan Foundation’s partner, Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center (VMPRDC).

We learned about the challenges of the informal settlers and fisher folk community that are being engulfed by the rapid tourist and economic development around Cebu. We also heard the struggles of the struggling street vendors of Cebu’s Carbon Market. I think we demonstrated that the tradition of kawang gawa of helping others is alive and well.